Track: Apponequet boys scratch out first win

Friday

Apr 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM

WAREHAM — With a breakthrough performance from junior Victor Pina, the Apponequet boys track team captured its first win of the season, defeating Wareham 74-62 in South Coast Conference action Thursday.

DEREK VITAL

WAREHAM — With a breakthrough performance from junior Victor Pina, the Apponequet boys track team captured its first win of the season, defeating Wareham 74-62 in South Coast Conference action Thursday.

The Apponequet girls also beat out the Vikings 70-65.

Apponequet boys head coach Justin Glen was pleasantly surprised with the effort of Pina, who won the high jump with a state-qualifying leap of 5 feet, 11 inches and placed second in the 400 hurdles. Pina's previous best in the high jump was 5-6. He also improved his time in the hurdles by a whopping five seconds.

"Victor has been getting better at a bunch of different things," said Glen.

Glen said Pina is just scratching the surface on his jumping ability. With improved flexibility, Glen expects him to clear 6-0 this season.

"He's getting there," said Glen. "We hope to stretch him out a little bit."

Junior John Irving was a double-winner for the Vikings (1-3), capturing the shot put (42-2) and the discus (100-7). Head coach John Sousa said Irving has qualified for states in both events. He threw 45 feet during the indoor season and Sousa expects him to reach that mark in the spring. He has placed first or second in both events in all of the Vikings' meets.

"He works hard," said Sousa of Irving. "He goes on his own time to a camp in Rhode Island to work on his form. He will definitely be one of our captains next year."

With a number of athletes missing due to a field trip in California, the Apponequet girls (4-1) were able to get solid performances from a number of individuals competing in events for the first time.

Typically a 400 and 800 runner, Cristina Brouwer captured both the 2-mile (14:42) and the mile. The Lakers also got a critical second-place finish from Emily Noyes in the mile, which helped secure the meet for Apponequet.

"A lot of people that don't usually score scored," said Apponequet head coach Norman Everett. "It was a total team effort."

Speedy senior Aliyah Alley had a tremendous meet for the Vikings (2-2), breaking her own school record in the 100-meter dash. Alley crossed the finish line in 12.4 seconds, eclipsing the previous mark by two-tenths of a second. She also won the 400 with a time of 61.7.

Head coach Chris Gardner said Alley, in addition to being a gifted sprinter, is one of the hardest workers on the team. After a nondescript freshman campaign, Alley started hitting her stride during the indoor season her sophomore year.

"She works very hard," said Gardner. "She has put in a lot of time on the track and in the weight room."

Alley previously competed in the 200 and 400 until her junior year when she tried the 100 and excelled at it. By the end of the season, Gardner expects her to be one of the top sprinters in the state.

"She puts everything she has into it," said Gardner. "She doesn't like to lose."

Fortunately, Alley doesn't have to suffer defeat very often.

APPONEQUET BOYS WINNERS: Alex McGurk captured the 400 with a time of 54.5. He teamed up with Nick Matson, Jack Congdon and Joe Cowing for a win in the 4x400 relay, crossing the finish line in 3:55. The quartet of Kevin Chagas, Tim Rowley, Mark Massa and Matt Weatherbee won the 4x100 with a 48.7. The Lakers also got wins from Dylan DeMoranville in the 110 high hurdles (15.4) and Josh Newhall in the 400 hurdles (62.2).

WAREHAM BOYS WINNERS: Mason Vasconcellos, Charles Tranfaglia and Richie Austin were all double-winner for the Vikings. Vasconcellos was victorious in the mile (5:17.6) and the two-mile (11:11.6), Tranfaglia sprinted to wins in the 100 (11.5) and the 200 (23.7) and Austin captured the long jump (19- 1/4) and the javelin (131-10). Wareham also got wins from Bryce Spencer-Jones in the 800 (2:15.6) and Caleb Westgate in the triple jump (34-10).

APPONEQUET GIRLS WINNERS: Emma Leombruno was a triple-winner for the Lakers capturing the long jump (15-2 1/2), triple jump (31-4) and the 400 hurdles (74.8). Kaleigh Swainamer also won three events, bringing home the javelin (86-4), high jump (5-0) and 110 high hurdles (17.0). Caitlin Rowley was victorious in the 800 with a time of 2:28.8.

WAREHAM GIRLS WINNERS: Caitlyn Berger won both the shot put (27-9) and the discus (85-7) for the Vikings, who also got victories from Maddie St. Julien in the 200 (27.7) and Emily Cummings, Hunter Thatcher, Anna Richard and Kate Cunningham in the 4x100 relay (56.2).